"Two percent growth is not what I expected when I hired you for this position," Ronnie said, her eyes darting from the report in front of her to the nervous manager. The shrill sound of the phone drew a glare from her. It had better be damn important to ruin a perfectly good chewing out. "Excuse me." She reached for the phone before the annoying ring could be heard again. "Veronica Cartwright...who?...Well, where's Rose? Why are you answering my phone? Fine...put her through." She looked at the man seated across from her. "That's all for now. I'd better see higher numbers next quarter." She turned her attention back to the phone. "Maria? What's wrong?"
Susan was walking down the hall toward Ronnie's office in search of her secretary when she saw her sister tear down the hall and head for the stairway. "Ronnie, what's going on?"
"I can't talk now. Gotta go." The door opened and the dark haired woman disappeared, footsteps pounding down the metal stairs. The redhead entered her sister's office. "Margaret, what happened here?"
"I don't know, Ms. Cartwright. Rose called me to come cover for her for a few minutes while she ran something down to accounting but when I got here she was gone. I assumed she couldn't wait and went down but I haven't seen her since." She pointed at the folders strewn about Rose's desk. "Funny thing is Wendy called up a few minutes ago looking for her."
"You mean Rose never showed up?"
"No. I was going to go look for her but then Miss Cartwright's housekeeper called and sounded real upset. I put her through to the conference room. Then Miss Cartwright came racing in here and grabbed her purse and left. Didn't say a word to me. Do you want me to stay here?"
"No, that's all right. You can go back to your desk now. I'll close up in here. I don't think either of them will be back today." Once her secretary left the room, Susan looked through the papers on Rose's desk. Seeing the folder for the Porsche, she opened it. The receipt on top still showed watermarks where tears had apparently fallen. Funny, I don't remember her saying anything to me about being in an..."Oh my god," she whispered. "No." Sitting in the chair, she turned the computer on and logged in under her ID. She opened the personnel file and compared the dates to the receipt. "Oh Ronnie." The pieces clicked into place and she had no doubt that they clicked for Rose as well. She thought about calling over to Ronnie's house but decided instead to drive over. If what she thought had happened, her sister would need her.
When Susan arrived, Ronnie was on the phone. "What do you mean you don't know where she was dropped off? How many women with cats do you drive around everyday?...Well can you at least tell me if it was a hotel or a bus station? You think it was a hotel? Any idea which one? You're a lot of help, thanks," she said sarcastically, slamming the phone down. "They don't know or they're not saying. Damn useless cab companies." She looked up to see her sister standing there. "What are you doing here?"
"I thought you might need help." She pulled out the adjacent chair and nodded at Maria's motion toward the coffeemaker. "I saw the paperwork for the Porsche on Rose's desk. Ronnie, I have to ask. The accident..."
"It was me," Ronnie answered sadly.
"And you never told her."
"No."
"So now she's found out on her own and decided to leave you."
"Looks that way," Ronnie sighed, staring at the phone. "Came here, packed a few clothes, took Tabitha and left."
"Maybe she just needs some time to think about it."
"I'd say she's already thought about it." She combed her fingers through her hair. "She's gone, Susan. She...she left me."
"Ronnie, she'll come back. You two love each other."
"She thinks I lied to her."
"You did lie to her," the younger Cartwright pointed out. "Ronnie, you have to expect that she'll be upset about this. You hit her and lied about it. I can't believe you kept that a secret. How did you think she'd react to finding out? Especially after the two of you have...you know...become lovers."
"I can't be without her, Susan." Her eyes fell on the empty chair which only hours before had been filled by Rose eating her breakfast. "I need her." She looked at the phone again. "How many hotels can there be in Albany? Maria, get me the phone book."
"I'll help. Where's the phone for the other line?"
"In the office. Ask them first if they take pets. That should eliminate most of them."
Forty-five minutes worth of calling hotels turned up no sign of her beloved Rose. Ronnie was beginning to become very upset and frustrated when Susan came out, a piece of paper in her hand and a triumphant smile on her face. "I tried to think like she would. You know how she's worried about money. I started calling the cheaper motels and viola, found her."
Ronnie took the scrap of paper and looked at it. "The Arcadia? That roach motel on Central?"
"It must be the cheapest motel in Albany that allows pets." The dark haired woman shut the phone book and stood up. "I've got to go see her."
"Ronnie, wait." Susan put her hand on her sister's shoulder. "Maybe you should call and talk to her on the phone first. You're upset, she's upset. Maybe a face to face confrontation isn't such a good idea. What if you get there and she doesn't want to talk to you?"
"She'll talk to me," Ronnie said. "Why wouldn't she? Rose is a reasonable woman. I'm sure once I explain what happened that she'll forgive me and come home where she belongs."
"I hope so," Susan replied, not entirely convinced that her sister was right.
Ronnie pulled her car into the pothole ridden parking lot. From the driver's seat she looked at the aged and decrepit structure. The dingy cream colored paint was peeling away in several places and half the upper level was missing the railing. Dented doors and broken windows added to the flavor of the dump. Ronnie was certain that she'd be able to get Rose to come home with her. Certainly she wouldn't choose to stay in such a disgusting place once she heard what Ronnie wanted to say to her. She was about to go into the office to ask which room was Rose's when she saw the familiar orange and white cat jump into one of the upper level's windows.
Rose stomped on the roach she saw scurry out from behind the toilet. Tomorrow she would call around for another place to stay. Knock knock. "Rose?" Ronnie's voice startled her. She hadn't expected to deal with her lover so quickly. She walked across the stained carpet and stood behind the door, pressing her forehead against the cool metal.
"Go away, Ronnie," she said softly.
"Rose, please let me in. We need to talk."
"Please Ronnie. Go home. I'm fine."
"You're not fine. If you were fine you'd be home with me." The doorknob jiggled, showing the executive's frustration with talking through the steel door. "Rose, please just let me in so we can talk."
"There's nothing to say, Ronnie. Go home. You don't have to worry. I won't sue you or anything."
"Sue?" The doorknob jiggled again. "Rose, let me in. I'm not worried about you suing me. Come on, honey. We need to talk."
"So talk. I can hear you." Rose knew she couldn't open the door. She was on the verge of tears as it was and to see Ronnie would be more than enough to push her over the edge. "What did you want to say?"
A long silence. "I wanted to say that I love you. That I want you to come home with me and talk about this. Please Rose, I'm sorry I lied to you."
"Sorry you lied or sorry I found out?" She closed her eyes. "Ronnie...please just go home."
"I can't leave without you."
"You...you were my knight in shining armor, you know. I really thought you had come down and rescued me like a real life Cinderella." She didn't bother wiping the tears that ran down her face. "And all this time you were just trying to protect yourself. What a fool I was."
"No...Rose, you don't understand."
"What don't I understand? You hit me, lied about it, made me think that everything you were doing was out of the goodness of your heart, then you let me fall in love with you." She lashed out, slamming the side of her fist against the door, startling the woman standing on the other side. "Damn you, Ronnie. Damn you. Why did you let me fall in love with you?" The sobs refused to be held back and Rose collapsed to the floor. "Please go away Ronnie. There's nothing left to say." She hugged her knees against her chest and cried.
"Rose, please." The young woman refused to answer, even when the request was repeated several times. Eventually Ronnie walked away, her footsteps against the creaking wood drawing even more pain from the young woman's heart. Rose threw herself on the threadbare blankets that covered the bed and cried herself into a restless sleep.
"Come to my house for dinner tonight, Ronnie," Susan urged. "You know Jack and the kids would love to see you."
"No. I have things to attend to here."
"No word from Rose yet?"
"She left the Arcadia a week ago and checked into the Lawrence. Trades in one dive for another." Ronnie rubbed her face with her hands. "She left instructions with the front desk not to let any calls through. They keep taking messages but she won't return my calls."
"Have you been over to try and talk to her again?"
"What's the point? I did that twice and she wouldn't even open the door for me." The strain had taken its toll on the beautiful woman. Dark circles under her eyes were a testament to the lack of sleep. Her cheeks were drawn, her hair given only the barest of care. "She just keeps telling me to go away."
"Ronnie, I hate to say this but maybe you should consider moving on."
"I can't, Susan. Don't you understand that she's everything to me?" She looked at her younger sister. "I need her like I need the air or water. I feel so empty without her." She turned her head away, angrily wiping away the tears that seemed to form so easily during the past week. "What's all this worth?"
"Hmm?" Susan didn't understand the question.
"What's all this worth? What's gains and ratios and profits worth if there's nothing to show for it? What's the precious Cartwright reputation and status worth if the one woman I need most in my life won't even speak to me?"
"Ronnie, you're talking crazy now. You know as well as I do that this business has to survive and make money."
"For what? So we can have a few more zeros in our bank accounts?" Ronnie stood up and looked out the window. "It doesn't mean anything without her."
"Veronica?" Both women turned to see Beatrice standing in the doorway. "I was downtown doing some shopping and I was hoping you girls would join me for lunch." She stepped inside and shut the door. "What happened to your friend? I thought she replaced Laura."
"She left," Ronnie said without elaboration. "I'm too busy for lunch today, Mother. Maybe Susan can go with you."
"Well, it's nothing important I guess." She sat down on the leather sofa. "So your little reformation project left? I could have told you it wouldn't work. Those people don't understand what hard work is all about. They just want to sit around a collect a check. I suppose she's filed for unemployment to pick your pocket some more."
"Rose isn't like that, Mother. She didn't quit because she didn't like to work. There were other reasons."
"There's no excuse for leaving a good paying job, Veronica, except pure laziness. It's in their blood."
"In whose blood, Mother? The poor white trash that you love to talk about?" Ronnie's hands gripped the back of her chair, knuckles white with the strain. "I'm sure there are people like that but Rose isn't one of them. She's good and honest and would give her last dime to help another person out and I won't have you talking bad about her again, do you understand me?"
"Veronica..." Beatrice's tone was low, warning.
"No. I've had it. You badmouth everyone who isn't a blueblood like us. Rose has never ever done anything to earn your dislike yet you treat her like a bastard at a family reunion. Well like it or not, Mother, I love Rose and that's all there is to it." Susan took a step back, certain that her mother and sister were about to have a battle royal with words. Never had any of them stood up to their mother and now Ronnie had just announced her defiance on the most taboo of subjects.
"I thought that issue was settled years ago or have you forgotten your promise to your poor deceased father?" Beatrice now stood in front of Ronnie's desk, her hands resting on the mahogany top. "You swore to him that you were through with those perverted ideas."
The strain of losing Rose sapped any tact or restraint that Ronnie had left. Blue eyes burned with anger. "You two forced me to promise that no matter how I felt. You think telling me not to love women would make those feelings go away? It didn't. What is so wrong with loving another woman? Why is it so hard for you to accept?"
"Veronica, think about your position for a minute."
"Fuck my position, Mother!" Ronnie shoved away from her chair and took a step toward Beatrice, noting that Susan quickly stepped between them. "Face it, Mother. Your oldest daughter is a lesbian. You can't change that so you'd better learn to accept it. Rose is my lover and I'll give up everything I have in order to keep her." She lowered her voice, the tone deadly serious. "Including my family."
"Ronnie, maybe this isn't the best time to talk about this," Susan said, trying to guide her older sister away from their mother.
"No Susan," Beatrice bristled. "It's obvious that your sister has decided to throw away everything her father and I worked for all these years."
"Mother, there's no reason why she can't be that way and still do a good job running the company."
"Whose side are you on, anyway?" The matriarch turned on her younger daughter. "Don't tell me that you accept this, that Jack accepts it."
"It isn't for us to decide who Ronnie loves, Mother." She looked at her older sibling and gave her a small smile. "And yes, Jack and I do accept Rose."
"I can't believe this." She walked over the couch and retrieved her bag. "I would have thought after poor Tommy's death that you would have realized what can happen from hanging out with the wrong element. And just how do you think the shareholders will feel about this?"
"It's none of the damn shareholder's business who I'm sleeping with," Ronnie snapped. "It's not like they can vote me out of office."
"You don't own controlling interest, Veronica. Don't forget that."
"Actually, Mother," Susan interjected. "With Tommy's shares between us we hold fifty percent of the stock. All we need is Frank, Michael, or John to vote with us and we have controlling interest."
"So that's it?" Beatrice's lips were pursed, her frustration obvious. "Fine. If Veronica wants to throw her life away and you're willing to help her, so be it. I'll call a cab from downstairs." She stormed out of the office, leaving the sisters alone again.
"Well that was productive," Ronnie sighed, sinking back into her chair. "I stood up to her finally and it doesn't even matter because Rose is gone anyway."
"You know I'm never going to hear the end of this, don't you? I'll guarantee there'll be a message on my machine when I get home."
"I know, Sis. I'm sorry you had to get in the middle of that." She picked up her pen, the present making her heart ache even more for her beloved Rose.
"Ronnie...do you want me to try and talk to Rose?"
"Do you think it would make any difference? She won't talk to me."
"I don't think it could hurt," Susan said.
"I'd make a deal with the devil if I thought it would get her to talk to me again." She looked up at her sister. "Please. If you think there's anything you can do or say to make her understand how I feel, do it."
"Which motel is she at?"
"The Lawrence on Central. About eight miles west of the Arcadia."
"That's almost on the city line of Schenectady, isn't it? The one that puts out all those gaudy Christmas decorations each year?"
"That's the place."
"I'll go talk to her but you need to tell me what really happened that night. She deserves to know the complete truth, not just whatever those papers she found told her."
Ronnie hesitated, then nodded in agreement. "I was out at Sam's..."
"There you go sweetie," Rose said as she put the plate of canned food down for Tabitha. She threw the empty can in the trash just as there was a knock on the door. "Who is it?"
"Susan Cartwright."
"Um..." Rose looked out the peephole, verifying that the redhead was alone. "I'm not really in the mood for company right now."
"Rose, it really is rude to leave someone standing outside the door."
"But..." Reluctantly she undid the chain and bolt. She opened the door. "Susan, if it's about Ronnie..."
"Of course it's about Ronnie," the redhead said as she breezed past Rose and entered the room. "My sister is heartbroken and you won't even give her the chance to explain. Hello, Tabitha."
"Mrrow."
"There's nothing really left to say, is there?"
"You tell me." Susan sat down on one bed and motioned for the young woman to sit on the other.
"She lied to me."
"Yes she did...about the accident. Not about how she feels for you. There's a difference."
"How can anything built on a lie be real?" Rose stood up and limped over to the tiny cube refrigerator to get some bottled water.
"Again, she lied about the accident. Everything else was real, Rose. Her feelings for you are real and you have to know that."
"I know she feels something," the young woman admitted when she returned to her seat.
"If you could see her, you'd know that she feels more than something." She reached out and took Rose's hand. "Listen to me. We're talking about my sister here. I know her. She's not one to take people's feelings lightly, especially her own. Rose, this is killing her. She's not eating, she's not sleeping, nothing matters to her now."
"It hasn't been a picnic for me either."
"Then why not go and talk to her? Come on, Rose. Think about it for a minute. If all she wanted to do was cover her tracks, then why did she stick around at the hospital? Why didn't she just drop you off and let them worry about taking care of you?"
"I don't know...maybe she felt guilty."
"Tell me something Rose, when the two of you, you know...did it feel like guilt to you?"
"No, of course not."
"Then why do you assume that everything she did came from guilt?" Susan smiled inwardly at the confused look on Rose's face. "If she was just guilty, she wouldn't have opened up her home to you. She wouldn't have gone to the lengths she did to take care of you. Look, I know you're hurting too but you have to look at the whole picture. Ronnie loves you."
"How am I supposed to forgive her?" Rose said, her voice cracking. "It's been six months and I still can't walk without pain. I have scars."
"You see this?" Susan rolled her sleeve up to reveal a small white scar near her elbow. "Ronnie and I were fooling around on our bicycles and she wiped out causing me to fall. I broke my elbow and had to spend the summer in a cast. I still can't extend that arm completely and I know whenever it's going to rain now. Do you think I shouldn't have forgiven her for that?"
"Of course not. It was an accident," Rose said.
"Exactly. It was an accident when she caused me to fall off my bike and it was an accident when she hit you with her car."
"It's not the same, Susan."
"Isn't it? Tell me something, Rose. Do you think she meant to hit you with her car?"
"No."
"Then it was an accident, right? Even if it was her fault it was still an accident." She shifted her rear on the bed, trying to find a spot where the springs weren't trying to poke through the thin blanket. "What do you remember about that night?"
"Not much," the honey haired woman admitted. "I was trying to get home and some men started chasing me. I remember running through the park and then onto Madison Avenue. The next thing I remember is waking up in the hospital."
Susan nodded, the events fitting with her sister's description. "Did you run out from the corner or the middle of the street?"
"I think it was the middle. It was snowing, I don't know."
"Ronnie says she was going up Madison when you darted out from between some parked cars. She said there was no way for her stop in time."
"Then why make up the story about coming up after the accident?"
"She had some wine at dinner and worried that she'd be arrested for drunk driving. Yes, she lied to cover her tail but she made sure you were taken care of. She tried to do the responsible thing, Rose. You have to give her credit for that."
"It was an accident," the young woman whispered. "If she hadn't been drinking..."
"She still would have been unable to avoid you. If you're looking for someone to blame, blame the men who were chasing you."
"But why didn't she tell me the truth later?"
"What happened when you did find out the truth, Rose?"
The young woman looked at her lap. "I left her."
"You never gave her a chance to explain, did you?" She reached out for the woman she considered a sister-in-law. "Rose, the accident wasn't her fault. She may be guilty of bad judgement but not anything else. Do you love Ronnie?"
Lifting her head to show eyes glittering with unshed tears, Rose replied. "Yes."
"Do you think that she would willingly hurt you?"
"No."
"Then why are you punishing her for what was clearly an accident? Let me take you home, Rose."
Ronnie was sitting on the couch, the pendant she had given Rose for Christmas in her hands. There had been no word from Susan and the raven haired woman feared that her sister's intervention would have no effect on Rose. The sound of the sliding glass door opening drew her attention toward the kitchen. When she saw Susan enter the living room alone, Ronnie's heart sank. She opened her mouth to speak but there was nothing to say. Rose was gone and wasn't coming back. "Ronnie?"
"It's all right, Susan. I know you tried your best." Blue eyes stared at the pendant. "Did she...say anything?"
"She said a lot of things but maybe it would be better if you just asked her yourself." It was then that the sliding glass door closed, alerting Ronnie that Susan was not alone.
"She's here?" She stood up and quickly wiped at the tear streaks on her face. "Is she here?" She sprinted past her sister and into the kitchen without waiting for an answer.
Rose barely had time to set Tabitha on the floor before she found herself caught in Ronnie's powerful arms. The cane clattered to the floor as the tall woman spun her round and round, hugging her tightly. "You're...crushing...me."
"Oh, I'm sorry." Ronnie quickly set her lover down and retrieved the cane. "It's just...well..."
"It's all right," Rose said, reaching out to take the larger hand in her own. She was surprised to see such a haggard expression on Ronnie's face. She realized that the separation was just as hard on her lover as it was on her. "I missed you too."
"Please don't leave again," Ronnie blurted. She hadn't meant to sound so desperate but the thought of not having the honey haired woman in her life was too much to bear. "I'll do anything...just don't leave."
"I can't promise that," Rose said sadly, turning away and leaning her hand against the counter. "I have questions, Ronnie. We need to talk."
"I think that's my cue to leave," Susan piped in from her position in the archway between kitchen and living room. "Sis, get Rose's suitcase from my car."
Ronnie's eyes never left her lover. "Sure...I'll be right back, okay?"
"I'll be here," the young woman replied softly, giving a wan smile. The executive reluctantly opened the sliding glass door and stepped outside. Susan walked over and put her hand on Rose's shoulder. "Are you going to be all right?"
"Yeah," she nodded, turning to face the redhead. "Thanks."
"Rose, I know Ronnie hurt you but don't forget how easily you can hurt her too. Be gentle with my sister. She loves you very much."
Once Susan was gone, an awkward silence fell over them. They stood in the kitchen, both lost in their own thoughts and fears. Tabitha padded into the room and spotted the unmarred black of Ronnie's slacks. "Mrrow?" She rubbed up against her tall mistress and began purring.
"Hey there." She bent down and picked up the happy cat. "How you been? Have you been taking good care of Mommy?"
"She missed you, you know," Rose said, moving a couple of steps closer. "She kept crying for you and looking at the door." She looked down at the floor. "I kept crying too," she added quietly. Ronnie set Tabitha down and closed the remaining distance between them just as Rose's lip started to quiver. "It just felt like some kind of horrible nightmare that I couldn't wake up from." Ronnie's arms went around her just as the young woman collapsed into tears.
"Okay, honey. I've got you." She held Rose tight, fearing that she would disappear like a butterfly if she let go. "Do you want to go sit on the couch and talk?"
"Sure," the young woman sniffled. "If you want to."
"Whatever you want to do, Rose. If you'd rather sit at the table..."
"No, the couch would be nice." The motel room didn't have a couch...well, not one that she felt safe sitting on. Hands resting on each other's backs, the couple walked into the living room. Rose took her usual cushion at the end while Ronnie hesitated, then sat down at the opposite end instead of the middle. To her surprise, the young woman scooted over to occupy the empty cushion. Ronnie took it as a good sign and rested her hand on Rose's knee.
"I love you, Rose."
"I know." She took a deep breath and looked into the blue eyes that haunted her dreams. "And I love you too. I wouldn't have come back if I didn't."
"I'm sorry about lying to you. I wish there was some way I could make it up."
"Do something now?"
"Anything."
"Tell me what really happened."
"Rose, it's in the past. Why can't-"
"Because I need to know what happened," she interrupted. "Please Ronnie. You owe me the truth."
The executive nodded and swallowed. "It happened so fast." She shook her head, the dark tresses waving with the movement. "It was just so quick." Looking into gentle green eyes, she continued. "I never saw you, Rose. I was driving and thinking about how I wasted the evening with a jerk and all of the sudden there you were. I hit the brakes but with the snow on the ground..." Her eyes closed briefly at the memory of the total silence that preceded the horrifying thud. "There was nothing else I could do." She looked away again, focusing on the grandfather clock. "There was so much blood, Rose. I thought I killed you. When I realized I hadn't, I put you in my car and drove you to the hospital as fast as I could."
"Why did you stay around?" Ronnie felt a small but insistent hand on her chin, forcing her to meet Rose's gaze. "You did your job, you got me to the hospital. You could have left and no one would ever have known. Why didn't you leave?"
"I needed to make sure you were all right. When they didn't think you had insurance, they wanted to ship you off to Memorial. I wanted to make sure you got the best care and that's at Albany Med so I lied about the insurance."
"And you were stuck after that?"
"No. Maybe until I had you sign the papers," Ronnie admitted. "But not after that."
"Then why did you keep coming back?"
Ronnie gave the only answer she could, the honest one. "I wanted to see you. To get to know you better."
"You know what I remember about those first few days?" Rose looked toward the ceiling. "It's mostly fuzzy glimpses here and there, just snatches really. They must have been giving me some powerful drugs then."
"They were," Ronnie agreed.
"I remember looking up and seeing you." She smiled warmly and looked at her lover. "There you were, this wonderful woman telling me that everything would be all right."
"You asked me if I was an angel," the dark haired woman added, smiling to herself at the memory.
"You were to me, you know. My own personal guardian angel looking out for me every step of the way. You were my knight in shining armor, my hero." She lifted Ronnie's arm and rested her head against the older woman's chest. "I didn't know why you took such an interest in me but I was grateful." Her voice grew sad. "Now I know."
"No." Ronnie rested her palm against Rose's cheek. "That first night I acted out of self-preservation and fear but don't you ever think that I pretended to care after that." Blue eyes searched green, begging them to understand. "I can't explain it but there was something about you, Rose Grayson. I couldn't stop thinking about you and the only time I was happy was when I was with you. I think I fell in love with you from that first day you woke up in the hospital."
"What happened to the Porsche?"
"I had it fixed and then sold it. I couldn't bring myself to drive it again." She reached down and began stroking the golden hair cascading over Rose's shoulder.
"Ronnie?"
"Mm?"
"When you realized that I was falling for you, why didn't you tell me then?"
Ronnie pulled the young woman closer, holding her secure in her arms. "By the time I realized that you were falling for me, I'd already fallen for you...hard." Taking a chance, she leaned down and placed a gentle kiss atop the golden head, pleased when she felt Rose lean into it. Turning her head so her cheek rested where her lips had just been, Ronnie continued. "I tried so hard to pretend it wasn't happening but every day I fell in love more and more. I was scared that if I told you the truth that you'd leave me. I couldn't lose you, Rose, I just couldn't." The gentle squeeze encouraged her. "When you left...when Maria called me..." Words failed the executive.
"I didn't know what to do, what to think. It hurt so much." Her fingers idly stroked Ronnie's hair. "But as much as that hurt, it was worse not being with you."
"I love you, Rose." She cupped the young woman's chin and their eyes met. "I can't change what happened in the past but I can give you my word that I'll never lie to you again." Her thumb brushed against Rose's lower lip. "I know you can probably never forgive me for lying but I love you and I know you love me."
"I do," the young woman said earnestly. "I've never loved anyone the way I do you."
"You don't know how much I wish that accident never happened, that you never had to suffer through all that pain."
"But Ronnie..." She kissed the thumb resting against her lip. "If it never happened then we wouldn't have met. Sometimes things happen for a reason."
"Then can we move on from here?"
"I'd like that." She leaned her head against Ronnie's chest. "Honey?"
The raven haired woman smiled at the endearment and gave Rose a quick kiss on the forehead. "Yeah?"
"Can we just stay like this forever?"
Ronnie smiled broadly and squeezed her lover against her. "Sure."
"You almost done in there, birthday girl?" Ronnie called from the other side of the door.
"Almost." She fastened the top and looked at her reflection in the mirror. "Honey, don't you think this bikini is a bit...revealing?"
"It's meant to be that way."
"You're a pervert, Veronica Cartwright, you know that?"
"Only with you, my dear." Tired of waiting, Ronnie opened the bathroom door and was treated to the sight of Rose standing there with only the barest of bikini tops on. "Very nice," she drawled.
"Nice for you maybe," the young woman countered, pulling the yellow bottoms on. Reddish gold tufts of hair peeked out from the side. "Great." She pulled them off again and headed for the toiletries. "Why don't you go on ahead, honey. I have to take care of something first."
"Sure you don't want any help? I'd be happy to help you."
Rose picked up the razor and smiled at her lover. "If you 'helped' me, we wouldn't get anywhere near the pool today." Ronnie stepped up from behind and wrapped her arms around the smaller woman.
"So? Would that be such a bad thing?"
"You are incorrigible. I'm certain this bikini is more of a present for you than for me." She looked from the shaver to her pubic hair and back at the shaver again. "I'm not sure if I need a razor or a weed whacker."
"Yeah? Try having black hair. The slightest stubble shows." Her hand began running circles on Rose's abdomen, steadily heading south. "You sure you don't want help?" she queried while nuzzling the smaller woman's ear.
"Isn't this why we didn't get to go swimming yesterday?" She stopped the wandering hand and stepped out of Ronnie's embrace. "You go bring the iced tea out and I'll be down in a few minutes."
The late August sun beat on the white concrete, causing the barefooted executive to stick to the shady areas while bringing the pitcher of iced tea out to the table. The pool was a brilliant blue, crystal clear and ready for swimming. All that was missing was Rose. Ronnie set the tray down and walked to the diving board.
Rose arrived just in time to see her tall lover walk down the length of the diving board. The two piece black thong bikini Ronnie wore hid nothing, much to the young woman's enjoyment. Her own pale yellow outfit was a bit more reserved but not by much. Instead of being a thong, it had a small strip that covered the crack of her rear and half of each cheek. The top, however, barely covered her nipples and she was certain that once again Ronnie had purchased a smaller size to make her show more cleavage. A present for me, hmm? I still say this bikini is more of present for her.
The tall, athletic form sprung off the board and dived into the water with barely a splash. Rose walked over to the shallow end and lowered herself into the pool. Soon Ronnie joined her and the two splashed and played about for a while before retiring to the padded lounge chairs.
"God, it's hot out here today," the honey haired woman said before draining half of her glass.
"The humidity is up," Ronnie replied, wringing the excess water from her hair. "Five minutes and I guarantee you we'll be wanting to go back into the water." She wiped her brow. "I think I'm perspiring already." She took her glass and laid down on the lounge chair, grateful that the umbrella provided shade for them against the burning sun. She didn't see Rose fish an ice cube out of the pitcher and gasped in surprise when it landed on her chest. "Whooo, that's cold!" she yelped.
"I thought you said you were hot?" Rose grinned. The predatory look in her lover's eyes quickly apprised her that she had made a mistake. "Uh oh. Um...Ronnie honey? You know I love you right? You wouldn't think of seeking revenge, right?"
"Me?" The tall woman feigned innocence, her fingers digging cubes out of her glass. Before Rose could move out of the way, Ronnie pinned her to the lounge chair and shoved several cubes between the yellow bikini top and creamy white skin.
"Oooh, Ronnie, get them out of there. Oh that's cold." She pulled the top up, baring her breasts and freeing the ice, which bounced harmlessly to the concrete ground.
"Well, that was worth the effort," the raven haired woman quirked, her mouth only inches away from nipples made erect by the cubes. "Would you like me to help warm you up, birthday girl?"
"Ronnie, we're outside." Rose looked around even though she knew no one was around.
"Well then I'd better make sure you're covered." Her left hand covered one breast while her lips converged on the other. She tasted the chlorine of the water on Rose's skin but didn't care. She was on a mission and only her lover's cry of passion would satisfy her. She felt an insistent hand reaching between them and raised herself up long enough for Rose to reach her goal. Soon her breast was being treated to the same attentions her hand was giving Rose. Things were heating up quickly and Ronnie was certain her fantasy of making love poolside was about to come true when the sound of a car pulling up in the driveway caught her ear. "Damn," she muttered, moving off her lover. "Someone's here."
Rose barely got her top back into position when Susan's ten and six year old sons Timmy and John came running around the side of the house. "Aunt Ronnie, Aunt Rose!" the younger boy shouted. "Mommy said we could come over here and go swimming today, isn't that great?" Ricky had his arms full with the PlayStation and obviously was planning on taking over the television for a few hours if the amount of games he brought with him were any indication. John jumped onto Rose's lap and wrapped his arms around her neck. "Aunt Rose, would you go swimming with me?"
"Sure hon, but only in the shallow end."
"Okay." His little face beamed. "Can Tabitha go swimming with us too?"
Rose laughed at the thought. "No John. Tabitha is a cat. Cats don't like water."
"Speak of the devil," Ronnie said, nodding her head in the direction of the house. The sliding glass door had been left open and the curious feline wandered out in search of new worlds to conquer. She looked at the boys. "Why don't you two go get changed. The pool house is right over there. Grab yourselves each a couple of towels." She turned to Rose. "You think you can handle things out here?"
"Sure." She scooted the boy off her lap. "John, I think there's a ball in the pool house that we can play with. See if you can find it, okay?"
"Okay, Aunt Rose." He followed his brother away from the pool. Ronnie watched them leave. "Looks like we're going to have company for a while."
"Seems that way," the young woman agreed. "Why aren't they using their own pool?"
"Susan said something about her pump breaking. Sorry hon, I know it's your birthday and all, but..."
"No, it's fine that they're here," Rose said. "I just wish I was wearing something else. I feel really naked in this." She tugged at the thin strap of her bikini top.
"I'll get you a tee shirt."
"Make it one of yours or else bring a pair of shorts with you too."
Ronnie returned a few minutes later carrying one of her tee shirts. She had changed from her two piece bikini to a more appropriate black one piece that covered most of her rear and provided very little cleavage. She called it her 'family get together' suit.
An hour later Jack was busy tending the grill while the women and boys played around in the water. Timmy and Ronnie raced each other across the length of the pool while Rose and John splashed around in the shallow end, occasionally playing with the brightly colored beach ball. When the young woman asked Ronnie where Susan was, she received a vague answer about the redhead not being a swimmer. John's fair skin showed signs quickly of turning pink and when Rose offered to take him inside, Ronnie stepped up and said she had to go get something anyway. A few minutes later Jack came over to the pool and whispered something in Timmy's ear, causing the boy to exit the water and head inside, leaving Rose as the only person in the pool.
Feeling awkward, she climbed out of the water and wrapped herself in a towel, thinking to herself that Ronnie had been gone too long. She headed for the house when Jack stopped her. "Rose, come take a look at these steaks and tell me what you think."
"Sure Jack." She moved over to the grill and looked at the various pieces of meat sizzling over the gas fire. "I hope everyone's hungry. You made quite a bunch here. They look fine, though. Maybe a few more minutes."
"Could you keep an eye on them for me? I have to visit the little men's room." He handed her the turning fork and walked away.
Ten minutes later the steaks were done and there was no sign of Ronnie or anyone else. Rose carefully piled the food on a plate and shut the grill off. "Where is everybody? I thought we were having a cookout," she said to the empty air.
"Mrrow?"
"Hi Tabitha," she said to the purring fluff pile that appeared at her feet. "Should we go in and see what's going on?"
"Mrrow?"
"Let's go." She picked up the plate and headed for the house.
"Up a little," Susan said. "No, that's too high. Bring it down a bit." Ronnie stood on one of the upper rungs of the ladder, thinking that her sister was a pain in the ass when it came to decorating. The banner was perfect where it was before but the redhead insisted that it would better if it was up just a foot. John, Ricky, and Timmy were busy running multi-colored rolls of streamers around the living room.
"We have to hurry up or she'll see it," the executive grumped. She spared a glance at her watch. "Where's Maria, anyway? She was supposed to be here with the cake a half-hour ago."
"She'll be here and if you'd just make it level, we'll be done," Susan said. They turned at the sound of the door sliding open. Ronnie shoved the thumbtack through the banner and stuck it to the wall. She had just hopped off the ladder when Rose stepped through the archway.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROSE!" They shouted, echoing the words printed on the banner. The young woman stood there speechless, her eyes wide with surprise. While she had thought it odd that no one except Ronnie had wished her a happy birthday, she chalked it up to them not knowing. She had never guessed that Ronnie would give her a party. John tugged on her wet shirt. "Aunt Rose, does this mean I can give you your present now?"
"In a little while, John," Susan said, shooing her son away. "We have to eat first." Rose continued to stand there, totally shocked. "Rose?"
"Um...uh...oh my." She looked at her lover. "You planned this?"
"Maria's on her way with your cake and I think Frank and Agnes are stopping by later," Ronnie replied, crossing the room to stand in front of the overwhelmed woman. "Happy birthday, honey."
"It's been so long since anyone gave me a party for my birthday," the young woman whispered. "I can't believe this."
"Believe it. You can count on this being an annual occurrence from now on." She looked at the boys. "You guys go help your father make up the plates." Once they left the room, she turned her attention back to Rose. "I love you. You didn't think I'd let your birthday go by without throwing you a party, did you?"
"You didn't say anything except about the bikini so I thought..." The young woman shook her head and smiled. "I should have known. Cartwrights love parties."
"Well, that may be true but this particular Cartwright had more of a reason to throw you a party than just your birthday." At Rose's quizzical look, Ronnie merely gave a sly smile. "You'll see later. Come on, go get changed into something dry so we can dig into dinner before it gets cold."
Maria arrived a short time later, the back seat of her car taken up with a large sheet cake. Ricky and Timmy got fingerfuls of frosting before Ronnie could get it placed up out of reach. John insisted on sitting on Rose's lap during dinner and the sight made Ronnie smile. The people that meant a great deal to her were there to help celebrate the birthday of the person who meant the most to her. Not a word was said when Maria joined them for dinner and the atmosphere was relaxed and comfortable. Little side conversations took place all around her but the executive paid them no attention. Her focus was on the green eyed beauty and the thought of the present hidden in the office.
Frank and Agnes arrived just as dinner was ending. Rose had to laugh at the sight of the big burly man carrying a fishing pole wrapped in dainty paper. "Gee Frank, I have no idea what you got her," Ronnie said with a smirk.
"You know fishing poles aren't the easiest things in the world to wrap," he replied. "Took Agnes forever to get it wrapped." He walked over to Rose and gave her a kiss on the cheek while handing her the present. "Happy birthday, Rose."
"I guess it's time to open presents," Ronnie announced.
It wasn't just any fishing pole but a top of the line with sensitive tip and left handed reel. "It's beautiful," she said as the final wrapping was removed.
"Maybe next time you go fishing you won't toss the lunkers back in," Frank said with a smile.
"Oh, I probably will," Rose admitted. "But it sure is fun to catch them."
"I wouldn't know. I've got more sunfish than bass this season," he grumbled good-naturedly.
"Aunt Rose, will you open my present now?" John asked, holding the gift in his hands.
"Of course I will, sweetie," she said, taking the present from him. It was a bottle of her favorite perfume and she gave the young boy a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you, John. It's very nice." She looked up at Susan and indicated her silent thanks with her eyes. Timmy and Ricky gave her presents as well, followed by a joint present from Susan and Jack. Maria gave her a broach that was simply breathtaking. Ronnie excused herself and went into the office. Rose watched her leave, wondering what her lover was up to. She had no doubt after seeing the presents that Ronnie had more for a birthday present than just a bikini. Her suspicions were confirmed a minute later when the raven haired woman called out for Frank to help her. Together they carried out a big, bulky looking box covered in green wrapping paper. Jack and Ricky moved everything off the coffee table to make room for them to set it down. Rose stood up and smiled. "Thank you," she said. "I wonder what on earth it could possibly be? Looks kinda big." The box was easily as long as her outstretched arms and half as high.
"Looks can be deceiving," Ronnie replied, sharing a knowing grin with her sister as Rose began unwrapping the large box. While the box itself proclaimed that a twenty-seven inch color television was waiting inside, the young woman knew from the weight that it wasn't the case. Besides, there were already a half dozen televisions floating around the house as it was. Surely Ronnie wouldn't have bothered to buy another one. Her curiosity was piqued when she opened the box to reveal another box inside, this one wrapped in red holiday paper. "I ran out of birthday wrap so I used Christmas paper. I hope you don't mind."
"Ronnie, you could have wrapped it in newspaper and I wouldn't have minded," Rose assured, pulling the smaller box out. Ricky moved the first box out of the way. The red box was unwrapped and opened only to discover another box inside. "Oh, blue paper this time."
"Wouldn't want you to be bored with the same old paper," Ronnie joked. Two more boxes with different colored papers had the boys in fits of laughter and the adults chuckling. "I can't watch this," Frank said with a huge grin on his face. Tabitha was having a grand time playing with the paper as it fell to the floor. "How many boxes did you wrap?" Rose asked after the sixth box opened only to find another one waiting inside.
"Oh, a few more." The devilish grin and wiggling eyebrows sent Susan's sons into renewed giggles. Finally a coat box wrapped in silver paper with gold ribbons was revealed. "That's got to be it," Frank said. Jack and Susan nodded in agreement. With all the excitement of a child, Rose opened the box to reveal a bright green and black ski jacket. "Oh, that's very nice," the young woman said, pulling it out of the box and holding it up for all to see.
"That is nice, even if it is a bit early for snow," Susan said. Rose was already standing up to try it on. It fit perfectly. "Sharp," Ricky said. John added a request for one in the same colors. Ronnie merely stood back and smiled at the image before her. "It may be early for snow here but not everywhere." The corner of her lip curled up with a smile. "Rose, what's in the inside pocket?"
"The inside..." The honey haired woman unzipped the jacket and pulled out a stack of papers. The bright stripes on the outer paper left no doubt as to its contents.
"I hear the Alps are just lovely this time of year," Ronnie drawled. "I do believe we both have some vacation time stored up."
"Oh my god, tickets to Switzerland?" Rose's fingers trembled as she pulled not two but ten tickets out of the sleeve. "Ronnie..." Her voice stilled as the names of several far away countries appeared before her eyes.
"I believe Germany, Austria, and Greece are in there too, aren't they?" the executive teased just before an overjoyed Rose flew into her arms.
"Ronnie, you are something else," her sister said.
"I can't believe you," Rose whispered into Ronnie's neck. "This is too much."
"Nothing is too much for you, honey," she whispered back. "We'll bring the laptop and write it off as a business expense." That made the woman in her arms chuckle. "Seriously, I would love to take you on a tour of Europe and this is the perfect time of year to go."
"I love you."
"Love you too. You're not crying on me again are you?" She stepped back to see that indeed Rose was weeping with joy. Susan came up alongside them and handed the teary eyed woman a handkerchief.
"Thank you." Rose took a few seconds to compose herself before turning to face the rest of the guests. Maria came up to give the young woman a hug. "What a beautiful gift," the housekeeper said.
"It is very nice," Agnes said, shooting her husband a look. "It seems some people would rather spend time with the ones they love instead of running off to some lake in the middle of nowhere for two weeks."
"Umm..." Frank looked at his cousin for support and found none as she was too busy beaming at the happiness on Rose's face. Now that there was no more need for a cane or frequent visits to the physical therapist it would be a good time for them to take a nice long vacation where Ronnie could show her lover all the beauties of the world. Although she had been to many of the countries already, she knew the memory would pale to the new ones that would be created with Rose by her side. When the jacket was placed back in the box, Ronnie smirked to herself. Not every present had been opened yet.
After the last of their guests left, they retired to the living room. Rose kicked her shoes off and tucked her feet up under her legs. "I can't believe you planned a vacation without me knowing. How did you do that?"
"Easy. My travel agent did the work. All I did was tell her what countries I wanted to visit. One phone call, a couple of emails and viola."
"You are amazing." Rose wrapped her arms around Ronnie. "I've only dreamed of going to places like that."
"Well now your dreams will soon be a reality," the executive said. She leaned down for a quick kiss. "I'm glad you liked your presents."
"I love them and I love you," Rose replied. "You didn't have to do this."
"It makes me happy to make you happy. You know that."
"You are wonderful."
"You think so, hmm?" Ronnie's heart began beating faster. "We may not have started out in the best of ways but I can't imagine my life without you."
"I feel the same way," Rose said.
"I'm glad to hear you say that." Her face became as serious as it had ever been. "I think you missed something in your jacket pockets."
"What? After all this?" The young woman held her hands out to indicate the stack of presents and the airline tickets. She picked the jacket up and laid it on her lap. As her hand fell over the pocket she felt the hard object hidden within. "Ronnie?" Her fingers traveled over it, her eyes widening. "Is this what I think it is?"
"I don't know," the raven haired woman replied nervously. "Maybe you should open it up and find out." As the zipper was opened, she added, "I hope you like it."
Rose's hand trembled as she pulled out the small velvet box. Tears were already beginning to well up in her eyes. "Oh God..." Her hands shook even more and Ronnie had to steady them with her own. "Open it, Rose."
The jewelry box opened to reveal a gold band adorned with a triple row of diamonds across the top. "Oh..." Ronnie's equally shaky fingers removed the ring from the box, turning it around for her to see the inscription.
To my Rose, love forever Ronnie
"Rose, would..." Ronnie's voice cracked and she had to swallow and start over. "W-would you be mine...forever?" The young woman couldn't find her voice and had to give a shaky nod, tears of happiness streaming down her face. "I love you, Rose." Holding the ring between her fingers, she took the smaller hand in her own. Tears fell from her own eyes as the gold band slid over Rose's ring finger. As it passed over the last knuckle their fingers intertwined and both tried to bring the joined hands to their lips. Ronnie used her strength to gently press her lover back down on the cushions while their fingers separated. Rose's hands went to the hem of Ronnie's shirt and slipped beneath. "I love you, Veronica Cartwright."
"And I love you, Rose Grayson."
Lying on the floor, Tabitha looked up at her mistresses. With a healthy stretch and a yawn, the orange and white feline stood up and headed for the stairs. It looked like she would have the bed to herself for the night.
THE END
I hope you enjoyed my story. If you did, drop me a quick note to let me know.
Thanks for reading. B L
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Accidental Love Ó 1998 B L Miller. Do not distribute or copy without permission of the author except for personal use.